NAIROBI, Kenya — A growing online debate has emerged over Safaricom’s 5G home internet service after Kenyan tech blogger and commentator Edgar “Nyakundi” raised concerns about the performance and reliability of the telco’s 5G router, particularly during peak usage hours and in lower-signal areas.
Nyakundi criticised the KSh 2,999 Safaricom 5G router, commonly bundled with entry-level home internet packages, describing it as inconsistent in performance, with users allegedly experiencing frequent slowdowns, unstable connections, and in some cases, near-unusable speeds at night.
He further claimed that some customers have reported difficulties obtaining effective support when service disruptions occur, despite continuing to pay for monthly data bundles that are marketed as high-speed home broadband solutions.
While the criticism has gained traction on social media, user feedback on Safaricom’s 5G home internet remains mixed.
Some subscribers say the service delivers strong performance in well-covered 5G zones, with stable streaming, fast downloads, and multi-device connectivity as advertised.
However, others report sharp drops in speeds during evening hours, a pattern that has also been observed in broader user discussions about fixed wireless 5G services in Kenya.
Recent user conversations on tech forums and community platforms indicate recurring complaints about congestion-related slowdowns during peak evening periods, with some customers saying speeds fall well below advertised thresholds in certain locations.
Safaricom, however, maintains that 5G performance is dependent on location, network load, and environmental conditions, and is generally offered on a “best effort” basis rather than a guaranteed speed model.
Safaricom’s 5G home internet solution is delivered through fixed wireless routers from manufacturers such as Baicells and Huawei, designed to support up to 32 connected devices and marketed for speeds of up to 250 Mbps under optimal conditions.
Industry comparisons suggest Safaricom currently leads in 5G peak speeds in Kenya’s mobile broadband market, although real-world performance varies significantly depending on coverage density and user concentration.
Telecommunications analysts note that such fluctuations are common in early-stage 5G home internet rollouts, where capacity expansion often lags behind rapid user adoption, especially in urban and peri-urban areas experiencing high demand.
The debate highlights increasing pressure on Kenya’s telecom operators as competition intensifies between Safaricom, Airtel, and emerging fixed broadband alternatives such as Starlink and fibre providers.
Consumers are increasingly demanding consistent, low-latency connections capable of supporting streaming, remote work, and gaming without peak-hour degradation.
Experts say the key challenge for operators is balancing affordability with infrastructure expansion, particularly in dense residential zones where network congestion is most likely to occur.
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While individual user experiences vary widely, the controversy reflects a broader issue facing 5G fixed wireless services globally: performance inconsistency in shared spectrum environments.
As adoption grows, operators are expected to invest further in network densification, additional base stations, and traffic optimisation to stabilise speeds during high-demand periods.
For now, Safaricom’s 5G router remains one of the most widely adopted home internet solutions in Kenya, but its performance continues to spark debate over whether the promise of ultra-fast connectivity consistently matches real-world user experience.
